{"id":244853,"date":"2025-09-04T09:00:39","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T13:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=244853"},"modified":"2025-09-04T06:38:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T10:38:09","slug":"the-chiefs-head-to-brazil-with-perfect-international-record-on-the-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/09\/04\/the-chiefs-head-to-brazil-with-perfect-international-record-on-the-line\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chiefs Head to Brazil With Perfect International Record on the Line"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Kansas City Chiefs are no strangers to the big stage. But this Friday, when they open the 2025 NFL season against the Los Angeles Chargers in S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil, the lights will shine a little differently.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Aug 22, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) talks with head coach Andy Reid after a play against the Chicago Bears during the first half of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Chiefs Aim to Keep Perfect International Record<\/h2>\n

It will be the fourth time Kansas City has played a regular-season game outside the United States\u2014and so far, they have never lost one. From a 45\u201310 demolition of the Detroit Lions at London\u2019s Wembley Stadium in 2015, to a nail-biting 24\u201317 victory over the Chargers in Mexico City in 2019, and a disciplined 21\u201314 win over the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt in 2023, the Chiefs have built a reputation for thriving abroad.<\/p>\n

This latest trip comes at a crucial moment. The Chiefs are still reeling from their Super Bowl LIX defeat, a loss that left a sour taste after another season of dominance. But if history is a guide, international soil has often provided Kansas City with the perfect reset button.<\/p>\n

A Timely Boost on Offense<\/h3>\n

The team\u2019s preparations received a lift this week as wide receiver Marquise \u201cHollywood\u201d Brown returned to practice after a preseason injury scare. With Rashee Rice suspended for the first six games, Brown\u2019s speed and playmaking will be key, alongside rookie Xavier Worthy and the ever-reliable Travis Kelce.<\/p>\n

Depth at tight end could also be a difference-maker. Robert Tonyan, now entering his eighth NFL season, has quickly impressed during the preseason and is expected to feature prominently. His experience with the Packers, Bears, and Vikings offers Kansas City another trusted option in an already loaded position group.<\/p>\n

Respect for Harbaugh\u2019s Chargers<\/h3>\n

Yet even with the Chiefs\u2019 overseas pedigree, the Chargers loom as a dangerous obstacle. Under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, L.A. is determined to turn promise into production. Last season, their defense ranked No. 1 in points allowed (17.7 per game), stifling opponents with a mix of speed, discipline, and physicality.<\/p>\n

Andy Reid, who begins his 26th season as an NFL head coach, was quick to acknowledge the challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know they\u2019re well coached,\u201d Reid said Tuesday. \u201cThey\u2019re not trying to give up the big play, but at the same time they attack underneath. Those front guys, I mean, Khalil Mack is a heck of a player, and Derwin James isn\u2019t bad either.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reid added that season openers often require adjustments on the fly: \u201cLike any year, early in the season, you\u2019ve got to be ready and flexible to adjust with new things that might come up.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is at Stake<\/h3>\n

For the Chiefs, Friday\u2019s contest isn\u2019t just about starting 1\u20130. It\u2019s about reasserting their place among the NFL\u2019s elite, shaking off last season\u2019s heartbreak, and extending an international streak that has become a unique part of the franchise\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n

Reid’s side, who swept Los Angeles last season, and with the second victory, dramatically clinched the AFC West title at Arrowhead Stadium, was set to depart for Brazil on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n

The 2022 and 2023 Super Bowl winners will travel on charter flights and will likely have a nonstop route, putting them closer to the 10-hour range to S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil.<\/p>\n

Main Photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Kansas City Chiefs are no strangers to the big stage. Friday, they’ll face off against their division rival, the Los Angeles Chargers. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5620,"featured_media":245013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36,16],"tags":[188,32896,7466,31931,9716,4497,339,32377],"class_list":["post-244853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-news","category-chiefs","tag-andy-reid","tag-hollywood-brown","tag-kansas-city-chiefs-news","tag-patrick-mahome","tag-rashee-rice","tag-robert-tonyan","tag-travis-kelce","tag-xavier-worthy"],"modified_by":"Will Koshover, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5620"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244853"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":245014,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244853\/revisions\/245014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/245013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=244853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=244853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}